(2) Certificate and abandonment applications filed under subparts A, E, and F of part 157 of this chapter.

(3) Blanket certificate applications filed under subpart G of part 284 of this chapter.

(c)What to file.

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, any filing of a schedule or an update described in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section must be submitted on electronic media.

(2) Electronic media suitable for Commission filings are listed in the instructions for each form and filings. Additionally, lists of suitable electronic media are available upon request from the Commission.

(3) With the exception of the FERC Form Nos. 1, 2, 2-A, 6, 60, and 714, the electronic media must be accompanied by the traditional prescribed number of paper copies.

(4) The formats for the electronic filing and the paper copy can be obtained at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, Division of Information Services, Washington, DC 20426.

(5) The subscription required by § 385.2005(a) must state that the paper copies contain the same information as contained on the electronic media, that the signer knows the contents of the paper copies and electronic media, and that the contents as stated in the copies and on the electronic media are true to the best knowledge and belief of the signer.

(2) EDI data submissions must be made as indicated in the electronic filing instructions and formats for the particular form or filing, and the paper copies and accompanying cover letter must be submitted to: Office of the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20426.

(e)Waiver -

(1)Filing of petition. If a natural gas company, electric utility, licensee or other entity does not have and is unable to acquire the computer capability to file the information required to be filed on electronic media, the company may request waiver from the requirement of this part, by filing an original and two copies of a petition. The natural gas company, electric utility, licensee or other entity may renew the waiver if the company can continue to show that it does not have and is unable to acquire the computer capability for electric filing.

(2)Standard for waiver. The petition for waiver must show that the natural gas company, electric utility, licensee or other entity does not have the computer capability to file the information required under this section on electronic media and that acquisition of the capability would cause the company severe economic hardship. This waiver may be granted for up to one year.

(3)Timing. The petition for waiver must be filed by the date on which the information in the manner affected by the petition is required to be initially filed.

(4)Decision on petition. The Commission or its designee will review a petition for waiver and notify the applicant of its grant or denial. Once the petition is decided, the natural gas company, electric utility, licensee or other entity will have 30 days from the date of notification of the decision to submit any information, in the manner specified by the Commission in the decision on the waiver petition, that was required to be filed while the petition was pending.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations governing the maximum civil monetary penalties assessable for violations of statutes, rules, and orders within the Commission's jurisdiction. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended most recently by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, requires the Commission to issue this final rule.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is issuing an interim final rule to amend its regulations governing the maximum civil monetary penalties assessable for violations of statutes, rules, and orders within the Commission's jurisdiction. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended most recently by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, requires the Commission to issue this interim final rule.

In this Final Rule, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is amending Rule 508 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure to eliminate the requirement that participants in Commission trial-type evidentiary hearings must provide paper copies of all exhibits introduced as evidence. The Final Rule will facilitate a shift toward electronic hearing procedures which should improve the efficiency and administrative convenience of the Commission hearing process, reduce the burden and expense associated with paper exhibits, and facilitate the compilation and transmittal of the hearing record to the Commission in electronic format.

The Commission proposes to amend Rule 508 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure to eliminate the requirement that participants in Commission trial-type evidentiary hearings must provide paper copies of all exhibits introduced as evidence. The Proposed Rule will facilitate a shift toward electronic hearing procedures which should improve the efficiency and administrative convenience of the Commission hearing process, reduce the burden and expense associated with paper exhibits, and facilitate the compilation and transmittal of the hearing record to the Commission in electronic format.

The Commission is clarifying its regulations to make explicit that, consistent with Order No. 714 and its subsequent orders, statutory tariff and rate filings must be made electronically, according to the Commission's posted requirements for eTariff filings. Filings not made in proper electronic format will not become effective under the applicable statutes if the Commission fails to act by the proposed effective dates in the applicants' pleadings.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of October 29, 2012 (77 FR 65463). In this final rule, the Commission is revising its rules and regulations relating to the filing of privileged material in keeping with the Commission's efforts to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Government Paperwork Elimination Act and the E-Government Act of 2002.

In this Final Rule, the Commission revises its rules and regulations relating to the filing of privileged material in keeping with the Commission's efforts to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Government Paperwork Elimination Act and the E-Government Act of 2002. First, the Commission establishes two categories of privileged material for filing purposes: Privileged material and critical energy infrastructure information. This revision will expand the ability to file electronically by permitting electronic filing of materials subject to Administrative Law Judge protective orders as appropriate. Second, the Commission revises its regulations to provide a single set of uniform procedures for filing privileged materials. These revisions continue the Commission's effort to reassess and streamline its regulations to ensure that they are efficient, effective and up to date. Also, the Commission revises Rule 213(d) of its Rules of Practice and Procedure, which establishes the timeline for filing answers to motions, to clarify that the standard fifteen day reply time will not apply to motions requesting an extension of time or a shortened time period for action. Instead, the Commission proposes to set the time for responding to such motions at five days, unless another time period is established by notice based on the circumstances.

The Commission is issuing this Final Rule to make minor changes to its regulations. This Final Rule revises a number of references that have become outdated for various reasons or contain typographical errors. Generally, these changes add or delete language in the current regulations by eliminating obsolete information, incorporating reference to updated electronic filing options, modernizing language, and correcting incorrect citations and clerical mistakes. The revisions are intended to be ministerial and/or informational in nature.